Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDG20461’

ABSTRACT

A new Dianthus plant designated ‘KLEDG20461’ particularly distinguished by double purple flowers with white borders and very early flowering, is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/973,972, filed on Nov. 4, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

Genus and species: Dianthus L.

Variety denominations: ‘KLEDG20461’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dianthus, botanically known as Dianthus L., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEDG20461’. ‘KLEDG20461’ originated from a naturally-occurring, whole plant mutation from the Dianthus parent ‘KLEDG12163’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,707) in June 2018 in The Netherlands.

In September 2018, ‘KLEDG20461’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative stem cuttings in Stuttgart Germany, and subsequently in Latina, Italy. ‘KLEDG20461’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation in Stuttgart, Germany and Latina, Italy via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘KLEDG20461’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Double, purple flowers with white borders; and     -   2. Very early flowering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dianthus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph of a 30-week-old plant taken in May 2019 and grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

The photograph is a whole plant photo of ‘KLEDG20461’ and shows the foliage, buds, and flowers.

DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEDG20461’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected in May 2019 on 7-month old plants grown in a plastic greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.         -   Botanical.—Dianthus L.         -   Common.—Pot carnation.         -   Designation.—‘KLEDG20461’. -   Parentage: Mutation parent ‘KLEDG12163’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.     24,707). -   Plant:     -   -   Propagation type.—Vegetative cuttings via stem, terminal             cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—10 to 14 days.         -   Root description.—Fine roots, young roots are RHS 161D,             mature roots are RHS 199C.         -   Rooting habit shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Plant form.—Upright.         -   Plant height.—15 cm to 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—22 cm to 25 cm. -   Lateral branches/stems:     -   -   Shape of the branch in cross-section.—Moderately angular.         -   Hollowness of the branch.—Absent, solid.         -   Length.—7 cm to 10 cm.         -   Diameter.—4 cm to 7 cm.         -   Internode length.—2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Internode quantity per branch.—3 to 5.         -   Number of internodes per branch/stem.—3 to 5.         -   Node length.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Node diameter.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 146B.         -   Flower clustering on the lateral branch.—In some lateral             branches. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Length.—4 cm to 5 cm.         -   Width.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Cross-section of the leaf.—Moderately concave.         -   Curvature of the leaf.—Absent.         -   Glaucosity of the leaf.—Weak.         -   Leaf color (both immature and mature).—Upper surface: RHS             138A for immature and RHS 137A for mature. Lower surface:             RHS 138A for immature and RHS 137A for mature.         -   Venation pattern.—Absent. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Semi-double, small sprays, round.         -   Fragrance.—Present.         -   Position of the flowers compared to the foliage of the             plant.—Moderately above.         -   Profile of both the upper and lower part in the lateral             view.—Convex.         -   Diameter of the flower.—2.3 cm to 2.7 cm.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to autumn.         -   Position of flowers relative to the foliage.—Moderately             above.         -   Number of flowers per spray.—3 to 5.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—14 to 18 days. -   Buds:     -   -   Length.—0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Color.—RHS 138A.         -   Extrusion of the styles at the bud stage.—Absent. -   Corolla:     -   -   Quantity of petals and arrangement.—10 to 15 and arranged in             several whorls.         -   Corolla height.—0.8 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Petal length.—2 cm to 2.8 cm.         -   Petal width.—1.0 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Petal shape.—Spoon-shaped.         -   Petal apex.—Obtuse.         -   Petal base.—Acute.         -   Petal margin.—Serrated.         -   Depth of petal margin.—Shallow.         -   Petal texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Petal color (both immature and mature).—Upper surface: RHS             81C with RHS 72A center. Lower surface: RHS 75D.         -   Macule.—Present; around 0.5 cm size and RHS 72A.         -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals and arrangement: Composed of 5             sepals. Longitudinal axis of the lobes of the calyx:             Straight. Shape: Campanulate.         -   Calyx height.—1.2 cm to 1.7 cm.         -   Calyx diameter (at the apex).—0.4 cm to 0.6 cm.         -   Sepal texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS             137D.         -   Position of the outer lobes of the epicalyx in relation to             the calyx.—Adpressed and free.         -   Apex shape of the outer lobes of the epicalyx.—Acute.         -   Tip length of the outer lobes of the epicalyx.—Short.         -   Apex shape of the inner lobes of the epicalyx.—Medium             acuminate.         -   Tip length of the innerlobes of the epicalyx.—Short. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—5 cm to 8 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 146B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Moderate. Filament length: 0.5             cm to 0.8 cm. Filament color: RHS 157B. Anther length:             0.1 cm. Anther diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS 155B.             Pollen amount: Absent.         -   Pistils.—Not observed. -   Fruit and seed set: Not observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect     resistance observed.

COMPARISON OF ‘KLEDG20461’ WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDG20461’ is distinguished from the mutation parent as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Line Mutation Parent Characteristic ‘KLEDG20461’ ‘KLEDG12163’ Main flower color RHS 81C RHS 75B Secondary flower color RHS 72A RHS 71A Flower color pattern Bi-color Bi-color

‘KLEDG20461’ can be compared to the commercial Dianthus variety ‘KLEDG18305’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,019). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEDG20461’ ‘KLEDG18305’ Flower type Double Single Flower color Purple with white border Pink with purple ring Flowering Very early; around 195 Early-medium; around time days after potting 205 days after petting (cold cultivation) (cold cultivation) 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dianthus plant designated ‘KLEDG20461’ as illustrated and described herein. 